I recently participated in the 2025 Yidan Prize Conference hosted by the Mary Lou Fulton College for Teaching and Learning Innovation at Arizona State University. In large part this conference was a celebration of my colleague Micky Chi, recepient of the 2023 Yidan Prize for Education Research. In addition, this event brought together researchers, policy makers, and practitioners to address pressing educational challenges through collaborative discussion and innovation sharing, providing a platform for exploring the future of teaching and learning amid rapid technological and social changes.

As part of the conference program, I moderated the “Catalyzing Technology for Learning” panel featuring Marwa Zahr of Can’t Wait to Learn and Rebecca Vieyra from PhET Interactive Simulations. Marwa shared how their digital game-based learning approach has improved literacy for over 300,000 children in conflict zones, while Rebecca discussed how PhET’s interactive simulations have reached learners in 129 languages with 1.7 billion uses worldwide. Our conversation revealed how both initiatives exemplify thoughtful technology implementation principles: they’re context-driven, developed through bottom-up approaches, demonstrate remarkable resilience, position technology as an enabler rather than a driver, involve co-creation with communities, and evolve through evidence and iteration. Together, they demonstrate how educational technology can create equitable learning environments across diverse contexts when designed with sensitivity to local needs.

It was an honor to share the stage with these amazing education leaders. I truly believe the insights they shared are worthy of broader dissemination. I am including the video of our session below. You can also see all the videos from the conference at this link.